Coin-controlled apparatus



T. P. SIOLON.

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1903.

2 sums-sum 1.

N0 MODEL.

Wiigesscs W O y :Teqsoo. wno'roumn. WASHINGTON, o, c.

PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904.

PATENTED FEB. 2, 1904.

T. P. SOLON.

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1903.

2 SKBETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Wiigcsscs UNITED STATES Patented February 2, 1904.

P TENT I OFFICE.

THOMAS F. SOLON, OF SOLON SPRINGS, WISCONSIN.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,420, dated February 2, 1904. Application filed September 1, 1903. Serial No. 171,574. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 5 Be it known that I, THOMAS F. SoLoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Solonj leased to perform its function after the lever has returned to itsinitial position.

A further object of the invention is to pro-.

vide a coin-controlled machine for use in con-' nection with graphophones and'similar soundreproducers in which on the insertion of a coin of proper denomination the inserted coin may act to release the winding 'shaft of a spring-motor mechanism, so that the operator may then turn the shaft to wind the motor, and on the completion of the winding operation the sound-box and record will be set into motion by the-unwinding of the spring, while the winding-shaft is automatically locked.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coin-controlled mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same as applied to the winding-shaftv of a graphophone'or like sound-producing machine. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the positionof the parts at the completion of the operative movement of the lever. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View I of the mechanism. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the transparent coin-chute and the mechanism for releasing the lowermost coin in the chute at each operative movement of the mechanism. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the coin-slot,'showing the coin-releasing mechanism in position for releasing the lowermost com.

Similar numerals of-reference are employed.

toindicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the supporting-frame of the apparatus are bearings for a winding-shaft 10, having the usual gearing connections with the springcarry ing shaft of a motor mechanism or other operative device to which the coin-controlled apparatus is to be connected. On this windwith a segment 12, loosely mounted on a shaft '13, the shaft being supported at one end by a ing-shaft is secured a pinion 11, which meshes winding of the spring. To this shaft is also secured an arm 17, provided at its outer end with an overhanging tongue 18, projectingin the direction ofthe toothed portion of the segment. The segment is provided with a pair of spaced lugs 19, forming a seat for an inserted coin, the coin being conducted to the seat by means of a suitable chute.

. To the hub of the arm 17 is secured a pin forming a connection for one end of a contractile spring 20, the opposite end of which is secured to a fixed point and serves to 'return the arm and the operating-lever to initial position immediately after the completion of each downward movement. When the lever and arm are depressed after the insertion of the coin, the latter is caught by the tongue 18, and as it cannot move downward between the lugs 19 the movement of the lever is imparted to the segment, said segment turning and through the pinion 11 rebe placed in the seat formed by the lugs, the tongue will pass between said lugs without effecting operative movement of the segment. When the spring or other operating device to which the coin-controlled mechanism is connected has been wound or otherwise adjusted to operative position, it is retained in position by means of a pawl 22, pivoted to the bracket-arm and engaging a ratchet-wheel 23, secured to the winding-shaft. The outer end of the pawl is connected by a rod to an arm 26, pivoted to a stud near the upper end of the bracket-arm, and said arm 26 has a laterally-projecting pin 27, disposed in the path of movement of the arm 17 so that when the latter ascends under the influence of the spring 20 the pin will be raised and effect a corresponding movement of the pawl 22, the latter moving from engagement with the ratchet wheel and permitting the wound spring or other mechanism to set the shaft into operation.

It is obvious that this mechanism, while described as used in connection with the winding-shaft of the springmotor,may be applied to various forms of coin-controlled mechanisms wherein the shaft 10 represents a revoluble member for operating a vending or other device without departing from the invention.

In devices of this class it has been found desirable to retain the operating-coins in sight after each operation, so as to minimize the danger of persons operating the machine by slugs or other counterfeits, and for this purpose the coin-chute 30 is provided with sides of glass or similar transparent material, as

,indicated at 31, the chute being of sufficient length to retain a number of coins and provision being made for discharging the lowermost coin from the chute after each operative movement. For this purpose the retainingfinger 33, in the form of an escapement-anchor, is placed at or near the lower end of the chute and is so arranged that one of these ends or arms shall normally engage the lowermost coin and prevent its passage to the cash-drawer. Secured to this anchor is a finger 34, which projects up alongside the toothed segment and is adapted to be engaged by a pin 35, projecting from one side of said segment. When the segment is operated, the pin 35 comes into contact with the finger or arm 34 and moves the same to such an extent as to move the lower finger of the anchor from engagement with the lowermost coin of the chute and bring the upperor second finger of the anchor into contact with the second lowermost coin. When the lowermost coin has been released and dropped and the segment starts on its return movement, the anchor is returned to its initial position and allows said second lowermost coin to fall in the direction of the bottom of the chute until it is engaged by the lower finger of the anchor and the column of coins held until the next operation.

It often happens in machines of this class that innocent intending purchasers deposit a small coin, such as a cent, in a machine intended to be operated'by anickel, and in order to return such small coins or to prevent the operation of the machine by these coins or by slugs or counterfeits of a size smaller than that intended for the operation of the machine the chute has two runs 40 and 41, arranged at an angle to each other, the end of the upper run 40 terminating in a spring-door 42, closing an opening through which small coins may pass. The angle of the chute-run 40 is such thatthe coins will receive suflicient impetus to travel over the space leading to the lower run 41 and will be directed against the door, the door opening and allowing the coin to pass it. The opening is of course of much less diameter than that of the coin intended to operate the machine, and the shelf 43, immediately in advance of the door, is on a level somewhat lower than the plane of the lower portion of the run 40, so as to insure the discharge of the coin, while it is not of a sufficient area to form a rest for larger coins, the latter dropping down through the open space into the lower run 41.

At the juncture of the two runways the metal walls of the chute are perforated, so that an attempt to operate the machine or to withdraw a coin by the insertion of a wire will result in the catching of the end of the wire in one or other of the perforations.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In combination, a shaft, a ratchet-wheel thereon, a pawl engaging the ratchet wheel and serving to prevent reverse movement of the shaft, apinion carried by the shaft, a gearsegment intermeshing with the pinion, an operating-lever for revolving the gear and imparting rotative movement to the pinion, said lever and gearing being locked through the intervention of a deposited coin, and means for releasing the pawl from engagement with the ratchet-wheel.

2. In combination, a shaft, a pinion and a ratchet-wheel carried by the shaft, a secondary shaft, a segment mounted loosely thereon and intermeshing with the pinion, an arm rigidly secured to the secondary shaft, coinclamping devices carried partly by the segment and partly by the arm, an operating-lever for efiecting rotative movement of the shaft, a spring for returning the arm and lever to initial position after each operative movement, and means operable on the return of the arm for releasing the ratchet and permitting rotative movement of the pinion-carrying shaft. 1

3. In combination, a shaft, a ratchet-wheel of a deposited coin, means for restoring the arm and lever to initial position, a pivoted arm connected to the pawl, and a pin carried I5 by said arm and projecting into the path of return movement of the tongue-carrying arm, substantially as specified.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in 20 the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS F. SOLON, Witnesses:

CHAS. A. KEELER',

MARY T. VIZARD. 

